Troy Heinert


Troy Heinert born July 29, 1972, is the Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate
Elected to the Senate in 2014, he was elected in 2015 as Senate Assistant Minority Leader. He was elected Minority Leader in 2018. He was first elected to the state House in 2012 and served for one term.

Early life, education and marriage

Heinert was born in Spearfish, South Dakota. He grew up on a ranch. His father died when he was 12, but he was taken under the wing of a close family friend. He attended local schools where he graduated with a BS degree in education.
He married Gena and they have two sons and a daughter. They lived in Mission, South Dakota.

Work and political career

Heinert started work as an elementary school teacher, working also as a wrestling coach.
He first ran for electoral office on the Todd County High School Board, winning a seat and serving for 3 years.
Heinert and his wife in 2007 became owners of Chute 2, a bar and restaurant attached to the Prairie View country club in Mission. Chute 2 was sold and he only works as a rodeo pick-up rider with the Korkow Rodeo family from Pierre, South Dakota, He became close to Jim Korkow, who was friends with his father, especially after his father's death. Korkow has acted as a father to him.
In 2012 Heinert was elected as a Democrat to the South Dakota House of Representatives from District 26A, comprising Todd and Mellette counties.
In 2014 Heinert was elected to the State Senate.
He was succeeded in the House from district 26A by Shawn Bordeaux also of Mission.